The Osceola times., 1887-01-29

tnls might De ratner puzzllng AIter
particular numeral, for example, is in-
scribed the word cocoa" The soldier
to whom it refers has assigned to him
the task of preparing the beverage
named, which is issued to the guard at
midnight-the standing cook having
the privilege of every night in bed.
The abstract is attentively perused by
the men, who sometimes take private
memoranda of the parts of its contents
that apply to them individually. Not
unfrequently this is done with pencil
on their pipe-clayed gun-slings in such
position as not to be apparent to the
inspecting officer.
As soon as every one has mastered
the corporal's hieroglyphics, a SER
geant issues from the bunk already al
luded to, bearing the "order-board, :"
which is of rather portentous dimen-
sions. As the great majority of the
men know the regulations off by heart,
they are read in slightly hasty and
perfunctory manner; though, with true
military exactness, not Il word is omit
ted. There is little in the list of orders
that calls for special remark; but one
paragraph is, we imagine, almost, if
not quite unknown elsewhere; it re-
lates to the conduct of the corporals
when marching round the "relief." If,
when so marching along with his men,
Her Majesty the Queen should meet or
pass the party, the non-commissioned
officer is directed to halt his SUBJ
ordinates, draw them up in "open
order" and see that the appropriate
salute is rendered. The curious order
which prohibits soldiers from "work-
ing at their trade while on guard is of
course represented on the board; but as
a matter of fact, some men pass good
deal of their spare time in the not very
martial occupation of making beadwork
pincushions. These articles. however,
command somewhat tempting prices,
especially in the metropolis.
While the men of the guard have thus
been engaged, the commandant has
taken over his quarters, adjacent to
the guardroom, and reached by a.
pretty long stone stair, well worn BY
the iron-shod heels of many generations
of corporals and drummer-boys. SooL
after mounting duty, the officer is
Joined by his servant, who brings with
him portmanteau containing various
comforts. A cooking department is
also required in the case of the officer,
whose meals, however. are conveyed to
him by the messmen from barracks.
Before long, the steps of corporal
ascending the stair warn the Captain Of
the guard that the hour approaches for
him to march off the "second relief"
The posts" are numerous. One sem
tinel PAGES about in front of the guard
room. much of his attention being de-
voted to saluting the Knights Pension
ers of Windsor, who reside in the
lower ward of the castle. An
other soldier has ample leisure to
examine the architectural features of
the celebrated Round Tower, at the
" n
takes post on the North Terrace, where
a splendid prospect enlivens the mo-
notony of his vigil, and whence, if of
pathological turn, he can contemplate
the windings of the river which are
said to have given the place the name
Wind-shore or Windsor. Or, if histor-
ically inclined, he may recollect that
the North Terrace was once the favor
ite promenade, for an hour before din
ner, of Queen Elizabeth. to whom il is
alleged the English soldier was origin
ally indebted for his daily ration of
beef. Then there are two sentries on
the eastern facade of the castle. These
men are in close proximity to the royal
apartments. BY night, they do not
challenge in the ordinary manner, but
by two stamps with the right foot; and
they are charged to pronounce
the words "Alls well'' in an un-
dertone. The grand entrance to the
upper ward of the castle is in the keep
ing of a double" sentry, as is also a
gate near at hand; and there are sew
eral other sentry-posts which it would
be tedious to visit in detail. In each
sentry-box hangs a heavy watch-coat,
which the soldier may put on when he
thinks fit. and of the large buttons on
this cloak he is expected to take sedu-
lous care.
BY night, the sentinels around Wind
sor Castle are slightly augmented in
number; but it will only be necessary
here to notice one night-post, the. clois-
ters of St Georges Chapel. This is
a somewhat eerie quarter in the small
hours. There is a military tradition
to the effect that the cloisters are occa-
sionally visited by shadowy and un-
earthly forms, to the perturbation of
young soldiers. The writer has had no
experience of these supernatural Wis
itants; but he has noticed, when march,
ing round the relief, an unusual alac-
rity on the part of some men TO quit
the cloisters.
While the men on guard are engaged
in their usual routine, the officer is not
altogether idle; he inspects and
marches off the relieving detachments
at intervals of two hours; and in the
afternoon visits the sentries, taking
pains to ascertain that they are familiar
with their instructions. At eleven
o clock at night he makes his rounds"
preceded by the drummcr-boy with his